Improvement in copy-books



UNITED STATES PATENT OFr'IoE.

HENRY W. ELLSWORTH, OF MADISON, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN COPY-BOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,733, dated July 22, 1879; application filed April 7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. ELLSWORTH, of Madison, Morris county, State of New J ersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Writing, Drawing, and similar Books and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part ofthis specification.

The object of my invention is an improvement in copy-books, whereby the sheets are retained .in proper position, and the amount of room required in writing reduced, without the objections incident to un derfolding the back and leaves of ordinary books.

In the drawings forming partof this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View, showing my improved book folded; Fig. 2, a perspective view, showing the book spread open; and Fig. 3, a view of the cover.

The leaves I) of the book may be ruled and provided with copies in any suitable manner; but instead of consisting of sheets folded and stitched through the fold, as usual, each leaf is a single fiat piece the size of the book, and has near one edge two or more openings, AB, through which and through corresponding openings in the back are passed continuous flexible loops or rings d, of cord or other suitable material, as shown.

The back D consists of a single piece folded in the center, with openings 8 s on both sides of the fold to receive the loops d.

When the book is open, as shown in Fig. 2, the leaves will lie on both sides of the back or cover, and will be retained in position by the loops; but there will be no tendency of the leaves to rise or bulge in the center, as in ,copy-books of the usual construction; on the contrary, each leaf will lie as flat as if wholly disconnected from the others. The leaves may be transferred from side to side, yet lie perfectly flat in each position, thus avoiding the necessity of resting the hand upon them or pressing them down with a paper-weight, all of which interferes with the freedom of the writers movements. It will further be noted that the cords d, being flexible, lie flat and present no obstructions.

When the space is not available to spread the book, as in Fig. 2, it is common with ordinary books to turn back the cover and leaves, and carry them to a position beneath the leaf that is being written upon. This forms a heavy, bulky, and elastic fold at the bound edge, the leaves tend to spring up and turn over, and the leaf to be written upon does not lie flat and level, so that imperfections result in the copying.

In my improved book the cover may be folded back without in the least drawing upon .or disturbing the leaves lying thereon. Moreover, the flexible bands (I are thus kept taut, so that the package of leaves is .held in place, and each leaf may be turned under without affecting the others.

If desired, a copy-slip may be connected to the back by cords c, as shown in Fig. 2.

-I claim- The combination, in a copy-book, of a folded cover or back having holes 8 s on each side of the fold, flexible loops (1, extending through said holes and outside across the fold of the back, and a series of independent leaves, I), each having holes A B, through which the loops pass, and capable of being adjusted on said loops while retained thereby, as set forth.

' H. W. ELLSWORTH.

Witnesses:

J As. A. HASSELL, J OHN '1. RYAN. 

